East Asian Cinema and TV and...

[elizabethbennet]

I have watched a Japanese drama (before starting Baker King Kim Tak Gu) called  And I Love Her which didn't work for me at all. The male lead looked like he was in junior high (when he is supposed to be a university student) seriously he looked so young and the female character was very very annoying (the actor was not bad, it was the character I'm annoyed with). In the end it was fail for me and despite the fact that there are some interesting secondary characters, the drama ended up very forced (I guess they were trying for a Long Vacation vibe which didn't work)

[Dil Bert]

Started Madame White Snake, available subbed here.  More once I get a feeling for the series.

[Deewani_Aurat]

I have watched a Japanese drama (before starting Baker King Kim Tak Gu) called  And I Love Her which didn't work for me at all.

What made you choose that Jdrama? I've had no luck with Jdramas. I've attempted to watch 3 and i haven't been able to finish one. Which is bad considering there is only like 9-11 episodes in most episodes!

Have you ever found a really good one elizabethbennet? Someone tried to get me to try Hani Yori Dango (which was too immature for me) and some other ones i can't even remember the names to now.

[elizabethbennet]

Have you ever found a really good one elizabethbennet?

Oh yes - Pride happens to be one of my all time fave dramas (even if you don't like Kimura, give this one a try). But Japanese dramas have a very different vibe than K-dramas and sometimes the cuteness can be too much. I too didn't like Hana Yori Dango Japanese version and much preferred Taiwanese Meteor Garden. My recommendations in addition to Pride are


Long Vacation
Nobuta Wo Produce
Tatta Hitotsu No Koi *
Bara No Nai Hanaya *

** Loving melodrama would help in liking those.

Usually Japanese dramas get opposite reactions - my first J-drama was Nodame Cantabile and I purchased it based on glowing reviews and my love of classical music but it ended up being too wacky. I know a lot of people dismisss Nobuta but I LOVED it.

[shhrkh]

I finally finished 49 Days! Decided to give it another go after reading your review.   Ending was a shock for me. 

I was not expecting that at all either. I was not happy. Took me a few days to get over it. LOL!!

I don't watch too many Japanese dramas. I did love Hana Yori Dango and I feel it's the best of the three versions. Other than that, I would recommend Buzzer beat. The fact that it was a sports drama put me off initially and I was not too into it on the first episode but it definitely won me over. It was a certain scene actually. Anyways, it's about 2 people trying their best to reach their goals and dreams. Friendship plays a great part and there is great chemistry between all the characters and especially the main couple.

I also recently watched Fuyu no Sakura a beautifully told story about love, courage, sacrifice and some difficult decisions the lead lady makes. It is not a typical love story. A mature romance I would say. It's quite slow paced but told and filmed beautifully. I also loved the male lead and his relationship with his brother.

[LinKarish]

One Japanese Drama I would recommend is Hotaru no Hikari. There is a second season which I think is worth watching the first few episodes. I stopped after a couple of episodes, but the first three or four were worth watching. The last one I remember specifically finishing was the Goya episode in Season Two.

But Season One -- definitely worth the watch.  It's been recommended a few times by others on the thread, and it's one of those J Dramas that many people mention when talking about J Dramas.

[Remini]

Remini I would recommend Love and Marriage or Love Marriage. It's a 2008 Korean drama I watched some years back. It's a gem.

Thanks for this rec, LinKarish. I've started watching it and it's quite good BUT the female lead is toooo thin Took getting used to and I still find it distracting, but I can look past it now.

[LinKarish]

Thanks for this rec, LinKarish. I've started watching it and it's quite good BUT the female lead is toooo thin Took getting used to and I still find it distracting, but I can look past it now.

I know. It took me some time to get used to her as well.  Let me know when you finish watching it. 

[Prem Rogue]

Watched Still Walking yesterday. Its a terrific, observant film about the spoken and unspoken tensions within a family.

[elizabethbennet]

Baker King Kim Tak Gu has ended and caused me to suffer from serious withdrawal symptoms, thank God for

What Happened in Bali which is the show with the most messed up characters ever. I know a lot of people love this one and I agree with them. I ended up marathoning the last 7 episodes. This is not something I'd normally enjoy since everyone in it (including the side characters) are miserable, cunning and dishonest. Nothing good ever happens but:

* Perfect casting - Ha Ji Won is that girl who is not liked by Moms - regardless of their social, economical status - that girl has the snake eyes and I seriously like her alot.  The side characters, the secondary girl, moms & dads, best friends etc. were all fit to their roles.

* Eye candy for women and gays.  And I'm talking serious eye candy here. On one corner we have So Ji Sub,  not really known for his acting talents (but the guy angsts well, I'll give him that) but he is oh so pretty to look at. And he is the one who got all the shower of angst scenes.  On the other corner we have Jo In Sung. Great looking man who can also act and wisely chose to ham it up for Bali. He is so adorable and I love that he has his own teeth (not capped like the rest of the cast)

* The hillarious fashion and style (seriously the haircuts of the two male leads are enough entertainment on their own but poor Jo In Sung's outfits were also hillarious)

* Neverending WTFs and continuity mistakes - not that they marr the show mind you since this is not one where you'll care for any of the characters, they are hillariously entertaining.

All in all I recommend this show. As I said nothing happy every happens in it and all the characters are miserable but so much pretty and decent writing have their pull.

Currently watching Byakuyakou which is probably a very good book but these series are not making me happy. It is too weird a subject and there are some terrible things done by the two main leads but the show opted telling them instead of showing them (or it maybe the Malaysian copy I own, I don't know) and this affected the impact in my opinion. I may end up getting the Korean film White Nights which is adapted from the same book and bound to be better than this show.

[Dil Bert]

Treasure Inn (HK, 2011; Nic Tse, Nick Cheung, Charlene Choi) - as the linked to review says, this is a throwback to the costume comedies HK used to produce.  Not as good as the classics of the genre but still entertaining.

[Prem Rogue]

A Hong Kong Cinema Primer, pt. 1

[elizabethbennet]

In the absence of new dramas, I have started to re watch one I remember liking very much My Name is Kim Sam Soon and I have to say, this is better the second time. Kim Sun Ah does wonders in the title role. She is hillarious and while Hyun Bin is not much than a pretty face (he never registered in this drama for me, I start to like him after Snow Queen, and now I see that this is probably because he is not a comedy actor) but this doesn't matter since this is truly Kim Sun Ah's show. I can highly recommend this if you are into romantic comedies heavy on the comedy. This suprisingly made laugh out loud - which doesn't really happen unless I'm watching an old Stephen Chiau film- more than once. 

[Dil Bert]

Founding of a Republic (China, 2009; too many stars to mention)
Beginning of the Great Revival (China, 2011; too many stars to mention)
These films are big budget love notes to Chairman Mao and the Chinese Communist Party.  For most folks here, the appeal will be in the many, many stars in the films.  For those of you who like subtle, unintentional comedy, there's some amusement to be found in Mao being portrayed as having a combination of the best traits of Jesus Christ, Nostradamus, Superman, etc.  Not really recommended.

Punished (HK, 2011; Anthony Wong, Richie Ren, Candy Lo) - Violent film about the fallout following a kidnapping gone wrong.  Pretty good film, only marred by some overly-broad direction of Anthony Wong.

A Hong Kong Cinema Primer, pt. 1

Have you seen them, PR?  I recommend http://brns.com/ for good reviews (except for the ones by YTSL).

[elizabethbennet]

there's some amusement to be found in Mao being portrayed as having a combination of the best traits of Jesus Christ, Nostradamus, Superman, etc.

This got a laugh out loud from me, I think that is the closest I'll come to be entertained by either film.

Pretty good film, only marred by some overly-broad direction of Anthony Wong.

It probably stuck out in comparison with wooden Richie (he always looks like Bambi lost in the acting forest to me). Anyhow Anothy Wong Chau Sang is I think one of the best living actors in the world and he is especially entertaining when instructed to act "big"  (God his character in Ebola Syndrome for instance or his villain in Heroic Trio) since you know that he can easily be subtle too. I also am amused by the fact that he is such a regular character in real life. A bit on the aggressive side but regular not pretentious at all. When once asked why he kept acting in such lousy films he replied that he had to bring food on the table and can't afford to be choose (and man he was in some very very bad films).
I like Candy Lo so will probably give this a try despite the annoying presence of Ritchie.

[Dil Bert]

This got a laugh out loud from me, I think that is the closest I'll come to be entertained by either film.

They are big-budget spectacles, until they get bogged down in discussing party politics.

It probably stuck out in comparison with wooden Richie [...]

No, Richie was well-suited for his character in this film.  The direction of Anthony Wong was something out of a Bollywood masala movie.  Didn't fit with his character/the rest of the adults in the film.

I like Candy Lo so will probably give this a try despite the annoying presence of Ritchie.

Candy's only in the film for ~10 minutes total. 

[Prem Rogue]

Have you seen them, PR?  I recommend http://brns.com/ for good reviews (except for the ones by YTSL).

I've only seen Fist of Fury and 36th Chamber of the Shaolin from the list.

[Dil Bert]

I've only seen Fist of Fury and 36th Chamber of the Shaolin from the list.

For a film guy you sure haven't seen a lot of movies. 

Kindom and the Beauty is kind of depressing, but it does have a classic song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2N2-JA-2VpY
...which was parodied in Chinese Odyssey 2002: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwBEMxsjbpM

I can definitely recommend The Magic Blade, The Private Eyes, and Project A.


Elizabeth, while looking at YT I found this behind the scenes look at Chinese Odyssey song making: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mke4qvaY2XI

[Prem Rogue]

For a film guy you sure haven't seen a lot of movies. 

Hah, my knowledge of HK cinema is mostly limited to martial arts films, and even that knowledge isn't particularly in-depth.

[elizabethbennet]

Hah, my knowledge of HK cinema is mostly limited to martial arts films, and even that knowledge isn't particularly in-depth.

Well I don't really like Shaw Bros films but I enjoyed Have Sword Will Travel  and of course Come Drink With Me (this film is a must see if you are into HK action, and I don't even like it very much). The Magic Blade is so so for me but Project A is very entertaining.

And I actually liked The Kingdom and The Beauty but it is not really an action film is it?

brns.com is great and I actually like YTSL's reviews too since they are very informative and always encourage to seek more films. But they are not as funny as Brian's.

Elizabeth, while looking at YT I found this behind the scenes look at Chinese Odyssey song making: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mke4qvaY2XI

Thanks for that Tony and Faye have great rapport and on screen chemistry until they kiss that is, my God that kiss scene in Chinesse Odyssey 2002 is got to be one of the worst in cinema. And sadly I don't think it is because Faye is one of Carina's best friends, Tony's acting weakness is the skinship scenes. He can outgaze anyone but when it comes to jump into bed he wimps out - the only co actor who can make Tony look as if he is enjoying what he is doing imho is Zhang Ziyi, his scenes with her are consistently good.

The direction of Anthony Wong was something out of a Bollywood masala movie.  Didn't fit with his character/the rest of the adults in the film.

Now I have to see it just for that

[Dil Bert]

[...]Come Drink With Me (this film is a must see if you are into HK action, and I don't even like it very much).

I don't like it much either.  It is considered a classic, it was directed by a King Hu, and Cheng Pei-pei is a goddess.  But other than that...

And I actually liked The Kingdom and The Beauty but it is not really an action film is it?

No, the list PR referenced wasn't all action movies.

brns.com is great and I actually like YTSL's reviews too since they are very informative and always encourage to seek more films.

I just find her English hard to parse.

Now I have to see it just for that

We'll see if we agree on his performance.

[Dil Bert]

The Wild, Wild Rose (HK, 1960; Grace Chang) - Noirish adaptation of Carmen.  A bit dated, but it's entertaining to see Grace Chang play against type.

Some songs/music:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlB41zboyZU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R7j4eW6m14

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsJ-UPHuM54

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdR9KGCjb0w

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS4Debsa_HA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtJkRXhhX4c


And her usual avatar:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a502on4D_1k

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SZBLAovd28

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6XMAIOvJgQ

[elizabethbennet]

I have finished Secret Garden and how I wish that they have made it into a 16 or 17 episode drama

Spoiler (hover to show)

instead of milking the cow for the last drop at 20 episodes. Yeah I do like to watch happy couple being happy (it was so cute in Full House but that was a rom com not a melo) but come on! Seriously, it started with a bang went on being awesome and then deflated like a baloon at the end of a party.

Some thoughts :

* Hyun Bin why are you so awesome? Good looking and can act (not an exceptional actor but he can act) and despite the fact that he looked very very thin, it still didn't tarnish his beauty.

* Ha Ji Won still the girl the mothers don't like (and I think her nose became wider with age) I like it that she made a niche for herself in the tought women roles, despite the fact that she seriously can oppa pout wiggle when she has to.

* How cute was Oska and Seul? Loving them

* I want Hyun Bin's house in the show. Seriously I could live in that house and be happy since it serves all my needs (lots of sunlight, huge library, surrounded by water, open white spaces...)

* Hyun Bin and Ha Ji Won had crazy chemistry when it's UST but Ji Won is not a good on screen kisser and I have found their kissing scenes a buzz kill (except the foam kiss, that one was cute).


I have laughed I have cried and declare this a great show except thinking that it was 3-4 episodes too long. I highly recommend if you are into icy chaebol warmed up by poor but spunky girl trope (with a fantastical element treated with suprising restraint). The ending though was Lovers in Paris level of bad.

[Deewani_Aurat]

I have laughed I have cried and declare this a great show except thinking that it was 3-4 episodes too long.

EB I agree, it should have been around 16 episodes long.  It was slow, but even though the last 4 episodes were slow i didn't find it eye-rollingly painful like a lot of other shows i've watched that hang around too long at the end.  It was not compelling but just felt like i was watching a favourite comfortable weekly drama.

Plus I loved the very funny scenes when Hyun Bin

Spoiler (hover to show)

lost his memory and begrudgingly fell in love with her all over again. Was nice to see the situation all over again and how she dealt with it now

* How cute was Oska and Seul? Loving them

The guy who played Oska is the lead in some drama now called Can't Lose.  Seems quite good, I might give it a go in the nearby future as I too really liked him (despite the fact he could overact sometimes  )

The ending though was Lovers in Paris level of bad.

I don't know lovers in paris - what does that mean with how bad the ending was?

[elizabethbennet]

I don't know lovers in paris - what does that mean with how bad the ending was?

Lovers in Paris is famous for one of the worst drama endings ever (and I agree with everyone, the ending was ridicilous though the drama itself was good) to me Secret Garden's drawnout ending was same levels of badness but of different quality.

The main reason for that is I actually liked the story and the characters very much and loved how they dealt with the body switch gimmick. Those 4 episodes were unnecessary and didn't quite go well with how the show handled itself up to then (I love to watch Binnie do cute stuff and there cannot be too much of it but the show itself was too good with the angst too real for an extention like that I thought)

This weekend I decided to rewatch

Please Teach Me English This one was as good as I remembered it to be. The quirky humour was just on the right dose and the two leads were perfect with great side characters and cameos. Also this film might be the only film where a caucasian actor actually does a good work in a Korean film. Kudos. This one is highly recommended.

Libera Me Good stuntwork and fire cinematography fell victim to a bad screenplay and not so good performances. I'd consider this film a total fail but it stars Choi Min Su, Yoo Ji Tea and Cha Seung Won - yeah this one just has the eye candy factor  (one example to crazy: Cha Seung Won is an ex-con who works as a janitor at a hospital and he wears Calvin Klein demin overalls. And it is not like I'm a fashionista to realise that, the label is very visible)  This one is not recommended if you are a straight man, otherwise check it out for good looking men in firemen uniforms saving lives and an equally hot baddie.